| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Officials Begin FY2026 Budget ReviewBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:06PM / Friday, February 07, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds has helped mitigate costs in the highway budget the last few years. Fiscal 2026 will be mixed — slight increases because of the end ARPA but offsets using the last of the funds for supplies. Highway Superintendent Edward "Bud" Hall recently pointed out some of those areas to the Select Board in his proposed fiscal 2026 budget. The board approved line budgets for sewer, snow and ice, cemetery, parks, tree warden, and town engineer and tentatively approved the transfer station budget for $255,513, a $12,370, or 4.62 percent decrease from last year. The budget included 0 Comments
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School Committee OKs Pittsfield Administrator ContractsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:44PM / Friday, February 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and administrators' union have settled on a contract that runs retroactively from 2024 to 2027.
On Wednesday, after one last executive session, the Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association collective bargaining agreement was approved. The union, which represents deans, principals, vice and assistant principals, school psychologists, coordinators and adjustment counselors, has already ratified it.
"We're grateful for the work of these employees and we're glad that we reached an agreement," committee member Sara Hathaway said.
Chair William Cameron reported that the most salient items were the compensation
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Pittsfield Braces for 'Difficult' Budget SeasonBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:06AM / Friday, February 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The upcoming budget cycle will be "difficult" and have no frills, officials say.
"As most of you know, I was sounding an alarm that I thought fiscal year 2026 was going to be pretty scary," Mayor Peter Marchetti told the City Council and School Committee on Wednesday.
"And although the governor's budget provided some clarity and some positive Chapter 70 numbers, there are still many challenges that we will face."
There is a potential increase of about 15 percent on the city's health insurance, which would add $4.5 million in expenses and is equal to the Chapter 70 increase. During the Massachusetts Municipal Association
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Homeless 'Point in Time Count' Less Than Expected Amid Frigid WeatherBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:58PM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new year's weeks of frigid temperatures have likely meant fewer people on the streets.
This year's Point In Time count was taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and while totals are still being finalized, ServiceNet saw lower numbers in its count than expected.
"We have a full week to survey folks on where they stayed on that night of the 29th and I'll tell you, I don't have the exact numbers because we just ended but from our outreach, it was less than we expected to see," Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported to the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
"And so when I say that, we're
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The Retired Investor: Here Comes Super Bowl 59By Bill Schmick,
04:28PM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
Game Day is just around the corner. On Feb. 9, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia Eagles will face last year's winners, the Kansas City Chiefs. America is gearing up for the biggest game ever. Grocery stores are stocking up on chicken wings, nachos and soda. Consumers are shopping early and spending more while companies are breaking records on ad spend. And for many viewers, the Chief's tight end's romance with Taylor Swift will add a dose of human interest to the festivities. This year the heavy demand for ads had some 30-minute spots selling for more than $8 million versus $7 million last year. It is probably the only TV event in America 0 Comments
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Ferry Joins Pittsfield Co-op as Commercial Banking Leader| 04:12PM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced that Michael Ferry has come out of retirement to join the bank as its new SVP, Commercial Banking. With more than 40 years of experience in the local banking industry, including 34 years with Berkshire Bank, Mr. Ferry brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Ferry served as Senior Vice President and Commercial Regional President for Berkshire County and Vermont markets at Berkshire Bank. In this capacity, he led commercial lending, relationship management and related services, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering economic growth within the regions. 0 Comments
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BRPC Invites Applications for Home Modification Loan Program| 10:27AM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is now accepting applications for the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP). This state-funded, no-interest loan program assists homeowners and landlords (with fewer than 10 units) in making necessary accessibility modifications to keep disabled or elderly family members in their homes. Eligible modifications include bathroom and kitchen adjustments, ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts, sensory/therapy spaces, hard-wired alarm systems, fences, and accessory dwelling units. However, this program does not cover general home repairs such as roofing, window replacements, or heating system repairs. All work must be
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Berkshire Green Drinks: From Pretzel Slime to Carnival Candy| 08:18AM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Shelby Perry of Northeast Wilderness Trust will speak at the February Berkshire Green Drinks event, covering the life cycle of slime molds. This free virtual event will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 6:00 PM. According to a press release: Animal, vegetable, mineral…or none of the above? Learn about the unexpected lives of slime molds (myxomycetes) in this naturalist presentation by Shelby Perry, Wildlands Ecology Director at Northeast Wilderness Trust. During this talk, Shelby will explain the life cycle of the slime mold and some of its surprising habits. Attendees will learn where and when to find them 0 Comments
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BArT Announces Second Quarter Honor Roll | 08:00AM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
 ADAMS, Mass.— Berkshire Arts & Technology (BArT) Charter Public School has announced the students who made the honor roll for the second quarter of the 2024-2025 school year. Students who earned 80 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of "Honors". Students who earned 90 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of "High Honors." Academic courses at BART are aligned with the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks for the appropriate grade level and include all standards deemed necessary for a complete, college-preparatory, middle and high school education. Students in Grade 6 who 0 Comments
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Dalton Water Department To Undergo Water Rate StudyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:00AM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Water Commissioners approved contracting with Waterworth, a cloud-based platform, for a water rate study. The study will look at the district's debt, future projects, water infrastructure, inflation, and other factors to provide a guideline on how the district can raise or maintain its water rates in the future, Water Superintendent Bob Benlien said. "I explained to them that we don't want to be extremely aggressive on it, but I do see the need to increase our rates in the future, and this will work good for our asset management," he said. The study will also help communicate to the public the 0 Comments
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'Enough Abuse' Pitches Services to Pittsfield Amid PHS ScandalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Thursday, February 06, 2025 | |
Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Ward facilitated the presentation. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Department is considering a nonprofit's assistance to safeguard children from sexual abuse.
"This is not just your problem," Executive Director of Enough Abuse Jetta Bernier told the School Committee and the City Council on Wednesday.
While awaiting the findings of an investigation on the Pittsfield High School staffing scandal, officials heard how Enough Abuse can help strengthen policies and provide education to protect students in the Pittsfield Public Schools.
"I think for those that have felt almost frozen in terms of 'What do we do? How do we act?' Parents,
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Pittsfield School Building Commission to Review Its CompositionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:39PM / Wednesday, February 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Does the structure of the School Building Needs Commission fit its upcoming role for a school construction project? This will be explored as deadlines for the proposed Crosby/Conte build approach.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Brendan Sheran said he has been thinking about whether the present order will support the group moving forward into a project. It will be further discussed next month.
"A couple of things sparked that in my mind over the last year and a half, one of which is that at times, we've had difficulty getting a quorum," he said. "But also this is an order, not an ordinance. The School Building Needs Commission is not in the city code
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